Geology Course Descriptions / On-Line Course Materials

Geology Course Catalog (click on active links to obtain course syllabus)

(this list includes GLY , SCI and ENS courses taught within the Department of Geology; some links are from previous semesters)

(A)=every semester, (B)=once per year, (C)=once every two years, (F)=fall, (M)=summer, (O)=occasionally, (S)=spring, (W)=winter, *=Liberal Arts and Sciences Credit (LAS)

GLY 129, 229, 329, 429, 529, 629: SPECIAL TOPICS IN GEOLOGY - Selected topics. May be taken more than once as subtitle changes. Prerequisites: Designated by department as appropriate for content and academic level of credit. (1-4 sem. hr.)

GLY 160: ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY - (A) Integrated study of physical resources, processes of land, ocean, atmosphere, in terms of man-environment relationship. Three one-hour lectures and/or demonstrations. Not open to geology majors or those having GLY 171 or 261. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 171: EARTH SCIENCE - (A) Basic concepts and principles of geology, meteorology, and oceanography. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Not open to geography, mathematics, or science majors or to students with credit for GLY 160 or 261. Lab coupon required. (4 sem. hr.)*

GLY 172: EARTH HISTORY - (A) Evolution of the earth based on geologic evidence with special emphasis on the rock record of New York State. Not open to students with credit for GLY 262 or GLY 470, or majors in geography, mathematics or science. Prerequisite: GLY 171. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 261: PHYSICAL GEOLOGY - (A) Principles of physical geology. Earth materials, intracrustal forces and products, agents of gradation and their physiographic expression. Laboratory study includes minerals, rocks, topographic and geologic maps, simple geologic structures. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory, field trips. Primarily for science, math and geography majors. Not open to students with credit for GLY 160 or 171. Lab coupon required. (4 sem. hr.)*

GLY 262: HISTORICAL GEOLOGY - (S) Historical geology; evolution of North America interpreted from stratigraphic record; evolution of life. Laboratory study of sedimentary facies, invertebrate fossils, evolution of tectonic provinces. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory, field trips. Lab coupon required. Prerequisite: GLY 261. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 281: DATA ANALYSIS IN NATURAL SCIENCE - (F) Analysis and interpretation of geologic and biologic data using modern quantitative techniques with discipline-specific applications. Basic methodologies and interpretation of descriptive, comparative, and classificatory statistics. Topics include sampling, probability, univariate, and bivariate analysis. 2 one-hr lectures, 1 two-hr laboratory. Not open to students with credit for MAT/PSY 201, ECO 221, or COM 230. (3 sem. hr.)

GLY/ENS 292: LAND USE AND PLANNING - (F) Land as a natural resource; emphasis on geologic aspects that determine natural potentialities, restrictive conditions of land and its use. Three lecture hours; field trips. Lab coupon required. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 301: MINERALOGY - (F) Principles of physical and optical crystallography and crystal chemistry; descriptive mineralogy; identification of minerals using physical, chemical, and optical methods. Three lecture hours and three-hour laboratory; required all day field trip. Prerequisite: GLY 261; Corequisite: CHE 221. Lab coupon required. (4 sem. hr.)*

GLY 302: PETROLOGY - (S) Petrogenesis of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks; description and classification and interpretation based on hand specimens and thin-section. Three lecture hours and threehour laboratory; required all-day field trip. Prerequisite: GLY 301. Lab coupon required. (4 sem. hr.)*

GLY/ENS 310: WETLANDS ANALYSIS - (F) Investigation of the structure, geomorphology, hydrology, classification and functional assessment of non-tidal freshwater wetlands. The history of wetland use and abuse, definitions and analysis of wetland hydrology, biogeochemistry, soils and geomorphology. Laboratory and field trips, field classificatiion and delineation, and group field project. Prerequisite: completion of the GE-8 requirement, junior status, permission of instructor. (Also listed as ENS 310.)

GLY 363: INVERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY - (S) Important invertebrates in fossil record. Laboratory study of morphology, identification and preparation procedures. Two lectures, one three-hour laboratory, required field trip. Prerequisite: GLY 261. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 367: GEOMORPHOLOGY - (F) Origin of land forms. Evolution of earth's surface features and analysis. Two lectures, one three-hour laboratory, field trips. Lab coupon required. Prerequisite: GLY 261. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 371: METEOROLOGY - (S) Atmosphere, its phenomena; elements of weather; application to weather forecasting. Two lectures, one three-hour laboratory. Lab coupon required. Prerequisite: Six hours of mathematics or science. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 396: AQUEOUS GEOCHEMISTRY- (S) Detection, analysis, distribution, significance of chemical elements in soils, rocks, water, organic matter. Two one-hour lectures, one three-hour laboratory. Lab coupon required. Prerequisites: GLY 301, CHE 221. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 397: PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY - (S) Physical features of the ocean; origin of ocean basins; waves; currents and tides; shoreline processes; ocean sediments; effect on world climates and environmental problems. Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisites: Six hours of math or science. (3 sem. hr.)

GLY 400: SUPPLEMENTAL FIELD STUDIES - (A) Extended field study or field trips designed to complement classroom instruction. May be repeated as subtitle changes. Prerequisite: Consent of department. H, S, U grades are assigned. (1-3 sem. hr.)

GLY 410: HYDROGEOLOGY - (F) Physical relationships between geologic framework and water. Source, occurrence, movement, quantity, availability of water. Two lectures, laboratory sessions and field trips. Prerequisites: GLY 261 and junior status or permission of instructor. (3 sem. hr.)

GLY 430: FIELD HYDROLOGY - (F) Physical relationships between geologic framework and water. Source, occurrence, movement, quantity, availability of water. Two lectures, laboratory sessions and field trips. Prerequisite: GLY 261. (3 sem. hr.)

GLY 469: STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY - (S) Geologic structures, rock deformation. Two lectures, one three-hour laboratory. Lab coupon required. Prerequisite: GLY 302. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 471: STRATIGRAPHY - (F) Principles of correlation, nomenclature, facies interpretation, classification of sedimentary rock units. Laboratory methods of facies and correlation analysis. Two lectures, one three-hour laboratory, required weekend field trip. Prerequisites: GLY 261 and GLY 262 or GLY 470. (3 sem. hr)*

GLY 476: GEOLOGIC FIELD METHODS - (M) Three-week course taught at Brauer Field Station beginning late May. Instruments and methods of basic geologic field work: measurement and description of stratigraphic sections; use of plane table/alidade; elementary bedrock mapping. Compilation of stratigraphic sections, geologic maps, and structure sections. Offered summers at the Brauer Field Station. Required of all majors except those in the geophysics concentration. Optional for students in secondary education. Prerequisites: GLY 302 and junior standing. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 481: FIELD GEOLOGY - (M) Intensive study of field methods and techniques; reconnaissance and detailed areal geology mapping; preparation of geologic maps and sections. Offered summers at the Brauer Field Station. Prerequisite: Junior standing. (3-8 sem. hr.)*

GLY 487: INTERNSHIP IN APPLIED GEOLOGY - (A) A project-oriented internship with a government agency, industry, or other private or public enterprise, supervised application of geologic skills and knowledge. Prerequisites: Senior-year status; consent of department. (3-12 sem. hr.)

GLY 494: GEOLOGY LABORATORY EXPERIENCE - (A) Service as a labortory assistant in sections of a Geology course. Includes meetings with instructor, supervised instruction, lab preparation and interaction with students. May be taken twice for credit. Cannot be applied to any state teacher requirement. (1 sem. hr.)

GLY 499: INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS - (A) Limited to qualified seniors. Prerequisite: Consent of chair. May be taken twice for credit. H, S, U grades are assigned. (1-3 sem. hr.)

GLY 529: SPECIAL TOPICS IN GEOLOGY - (A)

GLY 550 - GEOLOGY OF NEW YORK STATE - (M,O) Geologic history of New York State as interpreted from the rock record. Special emphasis on: Paleozoic stratigraphy and depositional environments; metamorphism, magmatism and deformation of the Adirondack and Hudson Highlands; Grenville, Taconic, Acadian, and Alleghanian orogenic events; Pleistocene continental glaciation. Seven and a half lecture hours per week; 4 weeks. One all-day Saturday field trip required. Prerequisite: GLY 261 or equivalent.

GLY 570: PLATE TECTONICS - (O) Concept of plate tectonics; physical evolution of earth's surface and the biologic implications. Three one-hour lectures and/or demonstrations. Prerequisite: Twelve hours of geology. (3 sem. hr.)*

GLY 573: HISTORY OF GEOLOGY - (O) Development, evolution of major concepts in geological sciences. Two lectures, selected readings, report writing. Prerequisite: fifteen hours of geology. (2 sem. hr.)

GLY 576: GLACIAL GEOLOGY - (C) Glacial processes, features, deposits; Pleistocene chronology and correlations. One two-hour lecture, one three-hour laboratory, field trips. Prerequisite: GLY 367. (3 sem. hr.)

GLY 579: PALEOCLIMATOLOGY - (C) history and causes of natural climate change with emphasis on events and environments of the last two million years. One three-hour lecture. Prerequisites: GLY 261 and 12 hours of geology, biology, chemistry or physics at the 300 level or above. (3 sem. hr.)

GLY 581: ADVANCED FIELD GEOLOGY - (M) Field investigations involving detailed geologic mapping and analysis of specific area(s) by an individual or small group; written report. Offered summers at the Brauer Field Station. Prerequisite: GLY 469. (3-8 sem. hr.

GLY 595 - GEOPHYSICAL METHODS - (O) Principles and instrumentation of geophysical methods used tocollect and interpret data from the Earth’s interior. Two lectures, one three-hour laboratory. Prerequisites: GLY 261 and either PHY 105 & PHY 106, or PHY 201 & PHY 202.

GLY 690: THESIS - (N) Prerequisite: Consent of department (3-6 sem. hr.)

GLY 699: NDEPENDENT RESEARCH - (N) Advanced individual research into geological problems. Prerequisite: Thirty-six hours of geology. May be repeated for credit. (1-3 sem. hr.)

ENS 486: SEMINAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE - (S) Directed readings, library research and discussions of contemporary environmental topics with emphasis on thier scientific and political implications. Required for environmental science concentrators, open to science majors. Others by permission. Also listed in the college catalog as EST 486. (3 sem. hr.).

ENS 487: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP - (A) Project-oriented internship with government agency, industry, private or public NGO or a faculty member. Supervised application of science knowledge and skills to an environmental issue or project. Prerequisites: junior or senior status in environmental science concentration; consent of environmental science coordinator (Dr.Cirmo). (3-12 sem. hr.).

SCI 141: INTEGRATED EARTH SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY - (A) An interdisciplinary course for childhood education majors utilizing a student-centered, hands-on approach to develop basic concepts of earth science and biology for use in the elementary classroom. Two hour lectures and one two hour lab. (4 sem. hr.).

SCI 180: NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS - (F) Study of the interaction between society and natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and volcanoes. How humans evaluate and respond to these threats to their lives and properties. (3 sem. hr.).